September 5th, 2026 5:35pm
HICKORY, N.C. — The University of West Alabama Football team picked up a massive 34-23 win over No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne at Helen & Leonard Moretz Stadium on Saturday.
UWA (2-0) scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth-quarter, after trailing 23-17, to upset No. 21 Lenoir-Rhyne (1-1) on the road. Legend Doggett was responsible for two of those scores as the Cornerback returned a fumble for a touchdown, before recording a pick-six to propel West Alabama to their victory.
"That was wild back-and-forth game," said head coach Scott Cochran. "We have some things that we need to clean up but coming on the road against a really good team and coming out with a win, feels really good."
The Tigers were outgained, 449-296, by the Bears but the turnover battle would prove to be the most important statistic of the game. West Alabama forced four Lenoir-Rhyne turnovers while not surrendering a turnover themselves.
UWA came out of the gates fast as Chrissean Jones ended the Bears' opening possession, with his first career interception, picking off the first pass attempt of the game of LR's Wells Bettenhausen. West Alabama turned the short field into points, with Elijah Guyton drilling a 40-yard field goal at 12:09 to take 3-0 lead. That field goal by Guyton made him the new All-time scorer leading for kickers in UWA history. The score would remain 3-0 at the end of the first.
After forcing a turnover on downs, West Alabama drove 60 yards, with Luther Richesson completing four passes before finding Cam Joseph for a 25-yard touchdown that helped make it 10-0 at 12:26. Two possessions later, Lenoir-Rhyne's Daniel Deneen Jr.'s 74-yard punt pinned the Tigers at their own one-yard line. Moments later, the Bears recorded a safety at 9:49 to get on the board. The safety swung the momentum into Lenoir-Rhyne's favor as the Bears later struck on long rushing touchdowns, first an 87-yard run by Eddie Clark and then a 57-yard run by LJ Turner, with the second PAT putting the Bears ahead 16-10 at 3:43.